Pants-pressing machine



May 16, 1967 Filed July 0, 1964 n N N H. v. HOISVE T L 3,319,847

EANTS'PRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 16, 19%? H. v. HOISVE ET AL PANTS-PRESSING MACHINE 8 SheetsSheet 2 Filed July 6, 1964 INVENTOR5 HAROLD V. #0/51 5' BY JOHN 4. sm/KE A TTOIQ/VEY May 16, W67 H. v. HOISVE ET AL PANTSPRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 6, 1964 INVENTOKS HAROL D l H0/5 V15 Jvwb A 7 TOE/v.5)

May 11%, W6? 7 H. v HOISVE ET AL 3,319,847

PANTS-PRESSING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR5 HAROLD 1 1 40/5 1/45" JOHN L. STE/ME May M, W67 H. v. HOISVE ET AL PANTS PRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 6, 1964 IMTZILHIEIQ L INVENTORJ HAROLD 1 HO/S VE BY JOHN L. STE/K5 May W, WWI H. VJHOISVE ET AL PANTS-PRESSING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 w llll E 1 NW2 ENTORS 1/ #045145 z mi wm NmN NQN W3 m m? JOHN A BY STE/K5 HTTOEA/E) 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORNEY Why 16, 315%? H. v. HOISVE ET AL PANTS-PRESSING MACHINE Filed July (5, 1%4

QJ wM M 0 M United States Patent Ofilice 3,319,847 PANTS-PRESSING MACHINE Harold V. Hoisve and John L. Strike, Salt Lake City, Utah, assignors to McGraw-Edison Company, Elgin, Elk, a corporation of Delaware Filed Juiy 6, 1964, Ser. No. 380,471 23 (Zlaims. (Ql. 223-73) This invention relates to a pants-pressing machine of the one-lay type.

The most usual method of machine pressing a pair of mens or boys pants, or womens or girls slacks in a commercial laundry requires that two separate presses be used: one large, long press for doing the legs, and a round, short press for doing the rise or top part of such a garment. In order to completely press all parts of such a garment, using two such presses, five to eight separate lays or operations are required. Because of the time needed properly to make the separate lays or operations and to dry and press each part of the garment in a concurrent series of operations, the number of garments a skillful operator is able to press, per hour, is comparatively low.

There are presently available one-lay pants presses in which securing of the pants top in pressing position is simply carried out, but the securing of the pants legs to the buck or bucks on which they are to be pressed has not been effectively solved, because the following requirements, either singly or together, have not been met:

(a) The pants legs should be flexibly clamped to enable the operator to move or shift either or both pan-ts legs to properly line up the front and rear creases thereof and, in addition, to hold the properly adjusted legs in position until the press heads close over the pants-dressed buck;

(b) All wrinkles not already removed should be removed from the pants legs prior to closing of the press heads, and such removal of wrinkles should be carried out while the pants legs are being retained in adjusted position as in (a) above; and

(c) The means employed for thus clamping the pants legs, while strong enough to hold the legs during removal of wrinkles as in (b) above, should not mark, stretch or tear the pants fabric.

Since all commonly used mechanical or metal clamps have one or more of the above-enumerated disadvantages, it is another object of the invention to employ vacuum clamp means to hold the garment on the buck, because the same allows the operator to shift the garments, or parts thereof, as required, while the remainder of the garment is securely enough held in place on the buck so that at the precise moment that the press heads are at a nearly closed position, the residual wrinkles in the garment may be removed by an air blast,

Another object of the invention is to provide a pressing machine, as characterized above, in which the pants top or rise is first clamped in and expanded to the condition in which it is to be pressed, the crotch of said pants top being then extended to the same wrinkle-free condition, and the legs are dressed on opposite sides of a buck while the buck is subjected, from within, to suction that draws the pants legs into firm yet s-hiftable engagement with the sides of the buck.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for platen-pressing the opposite sides of the garment, dressed as above while simultaneously drying and forming parts of the garment not being thus pressed by air from within.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in' a working position and easily discon- 3,319,847 Patented May 16, 1%67 nected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The above-enumerated objects are utilized in a machine that, essentially, comprises:

(a) A topper buck on which a pants top or rise is placed or laid, fly portion up, a fly press head being brought down on the fly area of the pants top to clamp the same;

(b) Means to expand or stretch the waist and seat of the pants top while the same is held by the fly press head;

(0) Means to move a leg buck from a spaced position relative to the topper buck in crotch-engaging position against said buck;

(d) Means to simultaneously institute suction from the inside of the leg buck, through the padding on the opposite sides thereof, so that the same is effective to draw the pants legs, which are on opposite sides straddling the buck, into suction-clamped position on said buck sides;

(e) Means to move the above assemblage of bucks down into pressing position between a pair of press heads and, while maintaining the suction in the leg buck, introducing wrinkle-flattening heated air, under pressure, into the expanded waist and seat area of the pants top, such air entering, also, into the pants legs from said area and causing the pants top and legs to balloon out under the resistance imposed by the suction on the legs;

(f) Means to close the press heads over the buck assemblage substantially simultaneously with institution of such heated air flow, to press all parts of the garmentthe legs and sides of the pants top by direct contact with the press heads-the remaining portions of the garment not engaged by the press heads being dried and formed by the heated air; and

(g) Means, either manually or time-controlled, for opening the press heads, raising the bucks assemblage to initial position, stopping flow of heated air, breaking the pants leg-holding suction, separating the leg buck from the topper buck, and opening the fly press head, thereby releasing the garment for ready removal from the machine and leaving the same in position to receive the next garment to be pressed.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description and which is based on the accompanying drawings. However, said drawings merely show, and the following description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only. I

In the drawings, like reference characters designate sinular parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a partly broken side elevational view of a pants-pressing machine according to the present invention, in position to receive a garment to be pressed, except that the fly press head is shown in fiy-clamping engagement with the topper buck.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the up per portion of the machine as in FIG. 1, showingthe topper buck and fly press head in vertical section, together with means that mount the topper buck and its press head as well as the leg buck.

FIG. 3 is a similar view, showing the lower portion of the machine with the means illustrated in FIG. 2 lowered to the pressing position of the machine.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan and partial sectional view, as taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the medial line 5 of FIG. 4, showing the lower portion of the machine, as in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view as taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and showing a portion of a hot airand suction-providing unit used on the press.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a partial end and partial vertical sectional view of the machine as taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged and fragmentary side elevational view of the lower right-hand portion of FIG. 1, the leg buck being in pressing position.

FIG. 10 is an end view as seen from the right of FIG. 9 with the leg buck in cross-section.

FIG. '11 is a partial plan and partial sectional view showing the left end of the leg buck in crotch-engaging position relative to the topper buck.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the hot air-suction unit shown fragmentarily in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are semi-schematic views of the unit of FIG. 12, showing three different operating conditions of the unit of FIG. 12.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are fragmentary views, respectively showing two different control valves provided in said hot air-suction unit.

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic view of the control and operating system of the machine.

The pants-pressing machine that is illustrated comprises, generally, a frame 15 of L-shaped form, a carriage 16 guided for vertical movement in said frame, means 17 for raising and lowering said carriage, a topper buck 18 fixedly mounted on the carriage and extending horizontally therefrom, a fly press head 19 mounted on the carriage to move relative to the buck 18 between operative and non-operative positions, means 20 to effect such movement of the head 19, means 21 to conduct heated air to the buck 18, means 22 associated with the topper buck and mounted on the carriage 16 to expand the waist of a pants top dressed on said buck and held in operative position by the head 19, a leg buck 23 disposed in longitudinal alignment and extending forwardly relative to the topper buck 18, a duct 24 mounted on said carriage 16 beneath the topper buck and connected to and carrying the leg buck 23, means 25 to extend and retract the duct 24 and, therefore, move the leg buck horizontally toward and from the topper buck 18, means 26 to provide suction in said duct 24 and buck 23 to cause the pants legs of a pair of pants clamped around buck 18 to be drawn to the sides of buck 23 and held thereagainst, press head means 27 for engaging the sides of the assemblage of bucks 18 and 23 to press the garment while the means 21 is supplying heated air to the inside of the garment, means 28 to close the press head means over the bucks in a pressing operation, a hot air-suction-providing unit 29 to provide heated air to the means 21 and to create suction in the means 26 and, therefore, in the leg buck 23, and means 30 for instituting opening the press head means and returning the components of the press to initial position, stopping flow of the heated ,air, breaking the pants legholding suction, separating the leg buck 23 from the topper buck 18, and opening the fly press head, all for the purpose of returning the press to a condition to receive another garment after the pressed garment has been removed therefrom.

The machine frame 15 comprises an elongated base 35, preferably formed of structural members in rectangular form and constituting one leg of the L-shaped frame 15, and a vertical support part 36 extending from one end of the base part and comprising a cap frame 37 that is supported by vertical angle members 38 from one end of the base 35, and a pair of vertical tubes 39 inward of the members 38. Said support part 36 has a right parallelepiped form and constitutes the other leg of the L-shaped frame 15. While not so shown in the drawings for reasons of clarity, the above described frame is provided with an enclosing cover of suitable panels. The elongated base 35, at its ends and to a height approximating the top edge of the press head means 27, and the outer end, sides and top of the frame part 36, may be thus covered. It will be understood that the bucks 18 and 23, in the dressing position thereof as in FIG. 1, are open on both sides for ready access thereto by the operator. The front of the support part 36 is open to allow vertical movement of the carriage 16 and the components that extend forwardly therefrom.

The carriage 16 is guided by grooved rollers 40 engaged with the tubes 39. Said carriage is formed with side walls 41 that are connected, at the top, by a plate 42 and, at the front, by a wall 43. As shown best in FIG. 8, said carriage is located centrally between the vertical tubes 39. A tube 44 extends forwardly from the wall 43 and fixedly carries the topper buck 18.

The means 17 for raising and lowering the carriage 16 is shown as a pair of pneumatic units, one on each side of the carriage. The unit 17 shown in FIG. 18 represents the two that are shown in FIG. 4. Each unit comprises a cylinder 45, connected at its lower end 46 to the frame base 35, and a piston 47 in said cylinder and provided with an upwardly extending rod 48 that is connected to the carriage. The diagram of FIG. 18 shows said cylinder as being provided, at its opposite ends, with air inlets 49 and 50. A counterweight 51, hung by chains 52 that are trained around idler sprockets 53 journalled on the cap frame 37 and connected to the carriage sides 40, counterbalances the weight of the latter, enabling use of smallsize cylinders 45.

The topper buck 18 is formed with parallel side walls 54 across the top of which is provided a V-shaped pressing form 55. The outsides of walls 54 and the upper faces of the form 55 are covered by compressible padding 56, said padding extending across the front between walls 54 and having a V-form in plan view, as at 57. The bottom of the form 55 is welded to the top of the tube 45, and spacer tubes 58 span between the walls 54. A bag or cover 59 not only covers the outer faces of the padding 56, but continues as a loose sack-like enclosure below the buck, the same having an opening by means of which it is assembled over the buck and then tied thereto, as at 60, by a cord or band encircling the tube 44.

The bag 59, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, is much larger vertically than is the buck 18, the looseness of the bag providing material that may be expanded from within to fill out the top 61 of a pair of pants dressed on said buck. In dressed position, said pants top 61 has its fly portions separated and trained, from opposite sides, over the padded sloping walls of the pressing from 55, the waist and seat portions of said top being trained along the padded sides of the walls 54, and the latter extending downwardly, as indicated by the dot-dash lines of FIG. 8, and across the space between the walls 54. It will be clear that pants tops of various waist sizes will, according to such sizes, form loose folds and gathers in the bag 59. It is this portion of bag 59 that houses the waist expander 22 which extends into the interior of the bag through an opening in said bag closed by a cord' or tape 62. Enough slack is provided in the bag 59 to enable the expander to operate between a slack and an expanded condition of the trouser top 61. The bag 59 is closed over the V-shaped front end 57 of the topper buck, the crotch portion 63 of a pants top, dressed on the buck, being engaged over said bag-covered padded end of the buck. The pants legs 64 extend forwardly from the top during a pressing operation but, at the time that the top is first dressed on the buck 18, said legs are loose and limp, one on each side. Provision may be made in the frame-enclosing cover to support said legs until the same are ready to be dressed against the opposite sides of the leg buck 23.

The fly press head 19 comprises a V-shapcd head 65 that, as seen in FIG. 8, has sides 66 that conform to and fit within the angle defined between the padding 56 that covers the form 55 to effect a pressing engagement with fly parts disposed on said padded form. An enclosure 67, formed by end walls 68 and a top wall 69, receives heating fluid such as hot air or steam. A fitting 70, terminating in a fluid-discharging pipe 71, comprises an inlet and the fitting 72 an outlet for establishing flow of heated fluid through the enclosure 67 to, thereby, heat the head 65. A mounting plate 73 spans across the top edges of the sides 66.

The means 20 is shown as an arm 74 carried by the carriage 16 on a pivot pin '75, a set of spring-provided studs 76 on the plate 73 of the head 19, cooperating with a rocker head 76a on the end of arm 74 and engaged with the mounting plate 73, provides for resilient adjustability of said fiy press head when in pressing engagement, as above explained. Said means 20 further comprises a pair of pneumatic units (one being shown in FIG. 18). Each said unit comprises a cylinder 77 connected at its lower end to a side wall 41 of the carriage 16, a piston 78 in said cylinder being provided with a piston rod 79 that extends upwardly and is connected to an arm end 80 of the arm 74. An air inlet 61 at one end, and an outlet or by-p-ass port 82 at the opposite end, are provided in said cylinder 77. Extension of the means 20 by air introduced at inlet 81 rocks the arm 74 from the open, dot-dash line position of the head 65 as in FIG. 3, against the bias of a spring 83 to move said head to pressing engagement with the topper buck 13, as in FIG. 2. It will later be seen how the opening of by-pass port 82 enables the spring 83 to raise the arm 74 to the nonpressing position of the head 65.

The means 21 to conduct heated air to the topper buck 18 from a source of said air is shown as an elbow 84, mounted on one side of the frame base 35, that receives the air from said source (FIG. 7). The upwardly directed outlet of said elbow is provided with a resilient gasket 85 that is held in position on said outlet by a clamp 86. The carriage 16 is provided with a fitting 87 that has an opening 88 in a collar 39 and which is vertically aligned with the outlet of elbow 84 and the gasket 65 thereof. It will be clear that, in the lowered position of the carriage 16 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 7), said collar 89 engages against the gasket 35 and establishes a flow connection between the elbow 84 and the fitting 87. A preferably flexible hose 90 extends from the fitting 87 to the tube 44, thereby providing a closed conduit path to the interior of the buck 18 for heated air which, therefore, will be contained in and pass outwardly through the interstices of the bag 59.

The expander means 22 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 8) is shown as comprising an arm 91 on a pivot 92 extending between the sides 41 of the carriage, said arm being forwardly directed between said sides and extending into the bag 59, the cord, tape, or other seal 62 closing the opening of the bag around said arm. The free end of said arm 91 is provided with a connector fitting 93 on the end of which a head 94 is pivotally connected by a shaft 95 on said head. Said head 94, on opposite sides, is provided with longitudinally arranged tubes 96 that are spaced apart the same distance as the padded side walls 54 of the topper buck 18. From FIG. 8 it will be seen that the expander head 22 is disposed between said buck walls 54 with the tubes 96 in position-limiting contact with the padding 56 inbent around the lower edges of said walls. Said tubes 96, therefore, constitute means that effects an extension of the padded walls 54, as the expander is moved from the retracted position, as in FIGS. 2 and 8, and an extended position limited by the size of the waist of a pair of pants clamped on the buck 18, as in FIG. 3.

A finger 97 on a rod 97a disposed transversely in the forward part of the head 94 and disposed between the tubes 96, extends into engagement with the slack lower portion of the bag 59 to tauten the same as permitted by the pants top on the buck 18. FIG. 3 shows this arrangement.

Said expander means 22 is raised and lowered to the above-described positions by a pneumatic unit 130 which comprises a cylinder 131, and a piston 132 fitted in said cylinder and provided with a stem 133 that, by means of an arm 134 on the pin 92, raises and lowers the expander means as the stem 133 is extended or retracted. As shown in FIG. 12, the opposite ends of the cylinder 131 are provided with air inlets 135 and .136 for air to act on the piston 132.

The leg buck 23 (FIGS. 1, 9, 10 and 11) comprises a longitudinally disposed device in forward general alignment with the topper buck 18. Said buck 23 comprises an inner mounting and spacer frame 98, a pair of imperforate plates 99 afiixed to the opposite sides of said frame and defining a space 100 therebetween, a pair of plates 101 having orifices 102 on each side, separated from the plates 99 by frames 103 to form spaces 104. The latter spaces are subject to suction, as will be seen later. The space 100 houses a heating coil 105 in which heating fluid, preferably steam, is circulated so as to heat the sides. This fluid may be supplied, during the normal operation of the machine, in a continuous manner by way of flexible connections to the ends of the coil. Padding 106 is provided on the vertical outer faces of the orifice-provided plates 101, the same having not only proper resiliency during a pressing operation under pressure by the press head means 27, but also suitable porosity for a suction flow therethrough, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 11, for holding pants legs 64 against said padding by force of said suction which is present in the spaces 104, as above indicated.

In practice, the padding 1116 is trained over the top and bottom edges of the buck, the same being retained in operative position by a fabric enclosure 107, suggested in FIG. 9.

The end of the leg buck 23 directed toward the topper buck 18 is shown as provided with a vertical, convex and flexible member 1118 which is shown as of arcuate cross-section, but which may have the cross-sectional form of a shallow V. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 11, said member, when the buck 23 is retracted rearwardly toward the buck 18, fits into the V-form 57 at the forward end of the latter buck. Thus, the crotch 63 of a pair of pants mounted on the topper buck is resiliently engaged by the member 108, forced into said V-form, and tautened to press said crotch under the heat of the fluid in bag 59 and the heat radiated by the steam pipe 105. It will be understood that such engagement of the crotch 63 by the leg buck 23 is effected before the pants legs 64 are applied to the sides of the latter buck, so that the pants legs will extend straight out from the topper buck 18 on opposite sides of the leg buck 23 when they are being pressed between the press heads 27.

The duct 24 is shown as a square-sectioned horizontal tube 109 that is guided by rollers 11!) on the carriage 16, two above and two below said tube. The right or forward end of said tube has an upwardly directed portion 111 to which the buck 23 is affixed and which is provided with slotted openings 112 that open on the spaces 104 in said buck. The rearward end of said tube is open and is framed by a gasketed flange 113.

The means 25 is shown as a pneumatic unit that comprises a cylinder 114 that is connected at one end by a pin 115 to the carriage 16, and a piston 116 in said cylinder and provided with a stern 117 that is adjustably afiixed to a bracket 118 on the tube 109. It will be clear that, upon contraction of said means 25, the member 108 and the leg buck 23 are drawn to the cleft 57 in the front end of the topper buck 18, as in FIGS. 3 and 11, i.e., in pressing engagement of said bucks, as hereinabove described. Said cylinder has air inlets 119 and 120 at opposite ends which, as will be seen later, project and retract the stem 117 and, therefore, the buck 23.

The suction-providing means 26 is shown best in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 and comprises an elbow 121 mounted on the base 35 alongside and rearward of the elbow 84 and connected to the suction-creating unit 29, schematically shown in FIG. 18 and shown in fuller detail in FIGS.

12 to 17. The upwardly directed end 123 is connected to an upstanding tube 124 that is telescopically engaged with a tube 125, seals 126 being used to seal against escape of air between said telescopically engaged tubes. A 180 elbow fitting 127 is connected by one end to the upper end of the tube 125, said fitting being connected to the plate 42 of the carriage 16. The other end of fitting 127 is connected with a tube 128 alongside and parallel with the telescopically engaged tubes, the lower end of tube 128 terminating in a forwardly directed flanged fitting 129 that is in horizontal register with the flanged end of the tube 109.

It will be seen that this snorkel-type arrangement pro vides for movement of the tubes 125 and 128 and the connecting fitting 127, with the carriage 16, and yet maintains a suitably sealed connection with the tube 124 that is immovable, to enable application of suction in the tube 109 when the flange 113 thereof is in sealing contact with the fitting 129, as in FIG. 3. Thus, suction force originating at the elbow 121 is effective on the outer sides of the buck 23 to hold pants legs 64 thereagainst.

The press head means 27 (FIGS. 9 and is shown as a bearing bracket 140 afiixed to the forward portion of the frame base each of a pair of press arms 141 on pivots 142 journalled in said bracket is provided with a mounting plate 143 in opposed relation on opposite sides of the buck 23. On each plate 143 is carried a press head 144 by means similar to the studs 76 and rocker head 76a provided in the mounting connection between the arm 74 and the fly press head 19.

Each press head comprises a hot air or steam chest 145 having steam or hot air passages 146 for conducting heating fluid between connections 147 and 148 to heat the platen 149 which engages against the side of buck 23 in a pants leg-pressing operation. From FIG. 1 it will be seen that the press heads 144 are of an areal size and extent to cover the sides of the bucks 18 and 23 when the latter are lowered to pressing position between said heads.

The press head-closing means 28 is shown as a wedge 150 that is carried by the stern 151 on the end of a piston 152 operable in a pneumatic cylinder 153. Said cylinder is horizontally disposed on the right end of the frame base 35 and disposed to project the wedge 150 between rollers 154 on the arms 141, spread said rollers apart, and, therefore, move the arms 141 toward each other, closing the heads 144 over the dressed buck 23.

A time-controlled or manual valve 155 is provided in the means 30. The operation instituted by actuation of said valve will be described in connection with the sequential operative steps hereinafter set out and defined in relation to the diagram of FIG. 12.

In addition to the valve 155, two valves 156 and 157- for controlling operation of the fiy head 19 by the means 20, and two valves 158 and 159 for exhausting the bottom of cylinder 45 through port 50, are provided. Said five valves are mounted on the operators side of the press and are within easy reach of the operator.

The unit 29 is preferably located on the side of the press opposite to the operators position, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, and is mounted on a base frame 160 which may be tied to the base 35 of the machine frame 15.

Said unit 25 is shown as comprising a blower 161 and a filter 162 arranged in series with two three-way valves 163 and 164. The valve 163, through a heater or heat exchanger 165, is connected to the elbow 84 of the means 21 that conducts heated air to the buck 18. The valve 164, through the snorkel means 26, is connected to the leg buck 23.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, a two-way cylinder unit 166 with a normally-closed three-way pilot control valve 167 operates the valve 163. Similarly, a two-way cylinder unit 168 with a normally-open three-way pilot control valve 169 operates the valve 164. It will be seen from the above that valve 163 is on and controls the pressure or hot air side of unit 29, and the valve 164 is on and controls the suction side of said unit.

In the position of valves 163 and 164 of FIG. 13, the press is idling with the blower 161 running, the same being driven by a motor 170 through a drive 171. It will be seen that the press receives neither hot air nor is subject to suction, the circulation through the valves 163 and 164 providing a closed circuit through the blower and filter.

The position of FIG. 14 has the three-way valves set so that the leg buck is under full suction with exhaust of the blower being directed through the filter.

The position of P16. 15 is employed when the bucks are in pressing position, all of the air passing through the blower being directed through the heater 165 and then through the means 21 to the topper buck bag 59. The valve 164 is set so as to suck some air through the leg buck 23 and the rest through the filter 162.

Operation To institute a pressing operation after the pants top 61 has been arranged on the topper buck 18, as explained hereinbefore, the valves 156 and 157 are touched momentarily to send air from an inlet 180, through a suitable filter 181 controlled by a pressure regulator 182, along an air line 183, to a self-energizing pilot valve 184. Such a valve normally comprises a normally-closed three-way valve which, when a shot of air is sent into the pilot port thereof, shifts to open position and so remains until another valve exhausts the pilot air so the valve may return to its initial condition. Thus, the air in line 183 opens the valve 184 to cause an air flow in air line 185 to the lower port 81 of the cylinder 77. At the same time, a branch line 186 from the line 185 conducts air to the inlet port 187 of a normally-closed valve 188. The air to cylinder 77 raises the plunger 78 to cause the fly press head 19 to close over the fly portions of the pants top on the buck 18. When the plunger 78 passes the by-pass port 82, the air from cylinder 77, through a line 189, flows into the waist-expander cylinder 131 through port 136. This air causes projection of stem 133 and operation of the means 22 to expand the pants top that is clamped, as above, and shown in FIG. 3.

Now, the operator touches the foot pedal 190 of the valve 188 to cause the leg buck 23 to be slid rearwardly into engagement with the forwardly-directed cleft in the topper buck 18, as previously described. This pedal action opens valve 188, sending air along a line 191 to the pilot ports of a normally-open valve 192 and a normally-closed valve 193, causing said valves to shift, closing valve 192 and opening valve 193. This brings air by way of a line 194 to the inlet 120 of cylinder 114 of the means 25 to cause retraction of the stem 117 and of the leg buck 23.

After the leg buck has moved to full retracted or in position, it engages and opens a limit valve 195 which, through a line 196, supplies air to normally-open threeway pilot control valve 169 and into cylinder 168. The stem 197 of said cylinder is extended, moving the arm 198 and shifting the three-way valve 164 from the bypass position of FIG. 13 to the buck vacuum position of FIG. 14. At this time, the operator completes the leg lays over the buck 23.

The operator then touches the buttons of buck down valves 158 and 159. These valves, by way of a line 199 from line 196, open and send air through a line 200 to the pilots of valves 201 and 202. Said valves shift to send air into a line 203 that, through port 49, admits air to the top of cylinder 45 of the means 17. This causes the rod 43 to pull down on the carriage 16, moving the assemblage of bucks 18 and 23 to pressing position between the press head means 27. See FIGS. 3, 9 and 10.

When the bucks reach the full down position, the same engage and open a limit valve 204 which receives its air by way of a line 205 connected to the line 203. A

line 266, from valve 204, sends air to the pilot port of a normally-closed three-way valve 207, the outlet line 208 of which sends operating air into the head-closing cylinder 153. The air pressure on piston 152 starts to close the press heads 144 which, when partly closed over the buck assemblage, open a control valve 2'09 sending air from a branch line 210 from line 208 to a line 211 that conducts air into the cylinder 166 which controls the three-way valve 163 by the piston stem 212 of cylinder 166. Since the valve 164 remains in the same position as when shifted by stem 197 of the cylinder 168, shifting of the valve to the position of FIG. 15 causes air heated by the heater 165 to be blown into the buck bag 59 and through the interstices of said bag into the interior of the pants top 61 and between the two plies of each pants leg 64 as the same is held by suction on the buck 23. In this manner, the pants are form-dried and the wrinkles therein are removed so that the pressing action by the press heads 144 may be continued until either the valve 155 is manually pushed or the same is actuated by timecontrolled means of conventional design.

When normally-closed valve 155 is touched, the airlines 183 are exhausted therethrough, causing all of the mentioned self-energizing pilot valves 167, 169, 192, 193, 201, 262 and 207 to reverse themselves, causing the following: (1) shut-off of heated air; (2) opening the press heads; (3) raising of the carriage 16 and of the buck assemblage carried thereby; (4) opening of fly press head and retraction of the waist expander; and (5) projection of the leg buck 23 to the extended position of FIG. 1.

The manual valve 213 is provided for operation of unit 17 and raising and lowering of the carriage during setup and test. The valve 214 serves the same purpose for units 25 and 130.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A pants-pressing machine comprising:

(a) a pants topper buck,

(b) a single internally heated leg buck provided with a crotch-engaging end,

(0) means mounting the leg buck for longitudinal movement toward and from the pants topper buck,

(d) means to move the leg buck between a position longitudinally separated from the topper buck and an assembled position in which the topper buck is in end engagement with the mentioned end of the leg buck,

(e) means to move the assemblage of bucks from a pants-dressing position to a pants-pressing position, and

(f) press head means in position to engage the buck assemblage in the latter position to press against the opposite sides thereof.

2. A pants-pressing machine according to claim 1 in which (a) the leg buck is provided with opposite generally fiat sides, is interiorly hollow, and has orifices in said sides, and

(b) means to provide suction within the leg buck to create suction, through said orifices, on the legs of a pair of pants having its top dressed on the topper buck, to retain said pants legs in flat position against the buck sides during movement of the buck assemblage to pressing position.

3. A pants-pressing machine comprising:

(a) a pants topper buck,

(b) an internally heated leg buck,

(0) means mounting the leg buck for longitudinal movement toward and from the pants topper buck,

(d) means to move the leg buck between a position longitudinally separated from the topper buck and an assembled position in which said bucks are in end engagement,

(e) means to move the assemblage of bucks from a pants-dressing position to a pants-pressing position,

(f) press head means in position to engage the buck assemblage in the latter position to press against the Opposite sides thereof,

(g) a heated press head to clamp the fly portions of a pants top dressed on the topper buck,

(h) means to engage and expand the body and waist of a pants top when so clamped,

(i) a pervious bag loosely around the topper buck and over which a pants top is dressed, and

(j) means to direct air into said bag to remove wrinkles from the pants top during pressing thereof by the press head means.

4. A pants-pressing machine according to claim 3 in which (a) the leg buck is provided with opposite generally flat sides, is interiorly hollow, and has orifices in said sides, and

(b) means to provide suction within the leg buck to create suction, through said orifices, on the legs of a pair of pants having its top dressed on the topper buck, to retain said pants legs in flat position against the buck sides during movement of the buck assemblage to pressing position.

5. A pants-pressing machine according to claim 4 in which (a) the toper buck is formed with a recessed portion in the forward end thereof and in front of which the crotch of a pair of pants on said buck is disposed, and

(b) a resilient vertical member provided on the rearward edge of the leg buck cooperates with the walls of said recessed portion to clamp said crotch when the bucks are in assemblage engagement.

6. A pants-pressing machine comprising:

(a) an assemblage of two bucks, one to mount the top only of a pair of pants and the other providing opposite sides for the two legs beyond the crotch only of said pair of pants to be flatly engaged thereagainst,

(b) means to move one buck longitudinally relative to the other between a separated dressing position and an end-engaged pressing position, and

(c) cooperating means on the engaged ends of the bucks to clamp the crotch of the pants mounted on and engaged by the assemblage of bucks.

7. A pants-pressing machine according to claim 6 in which (a) the opposite sides of the buck engaged with the pants legs are vertical, said sides having orifices therein, and

(b) means to provide suction at said orifices and eifective to draw the pants legs into non-clamped and flat engagement with said buck sides.

8. A plants-pressing machine according to claim 7 in which (a) press head means comprising a pair of opposed pressing platens is provided to press against the opposite sides of the suction-provided buck and the pants legs thereagainst, and

(b) means to move the assemblage of bucks into pressing position between said pressing platens.

9. A pants-pressing machine according to claim 7 in which (a) press head means comprising a pair of opposed pressing platens is provided to press against the opposite sides of the suction-provided buck and the pants legs thereagainst, and

(b) means to move the assemblage of bucks into pressing position between said pressing platens, the platens being extended to engage the opposite sides of the pants top-mounting buck to press the pants top mounted thereon while pressing the pants legs.

10. A pants-pressing machine according to claim 9 provided with means to conduct heated air to the interior of the buck on which a pants top is adapted to be mounted before the press head means close over the buck assemblage to smooth out wrinkles in the pants on the bucks.

11. In a pants-pressing machine:

(a) a topper buck provided with means to clamp the fly portions of a pair of pants with the top of said pants encircling said buck,

(b) means to introduce heated air into said buck to expand the pants top thus disposed on said buck,

(c) a leg buck disposed in end-to-end relation with the topper buck and having orifice-provided sides against which the legs of pair of pants on the topper buck are adapted to be placed,

(d) means to move one of said bucks longitudinally relative to the other, and

(e) means to apply suction to said orifice-provided sides of the leg buck to retain said pants legs in flat condition on said buck sides.

12. In a pants-pressing machine:

(a) a topper buck provided with means to clamp the fly portions of a pair of pants with the top of said pants encircling said buck,

(b) means to introduce heated air into said buck to expend the pants top thus disposed on said buck,

(c) a leg buck disposed in end-to-end relation with the topper buck and having orifice-provided sides against which the legs of a pair of pants on the topper buck are adapted to be placed,

(d) means to move one of said bucks longitudinally relative to the other,

(e) means to apply suction to said orifice-provided sides of the leg buck to retain said plants legs in flat condition on said buck sides, and

(f) cooperating means on the two bucks to clamp the crotch of a pair of plants mounted on said two bucks.

13. In combination, means to hold a pair of pants in position to be pressed from opposite sides by a pair of press heads, said means comprising:

(a) a topper buck,

(b) means to clamp the fly portions of the top of a pair of pants encircling said buck,

(c) mechanical means to expand said pants top while so clamped,

(d) a generally fiat and interiorly hollow leg buck having vertical'perforated sides disposed in end-to-end relation with the topper buck, and

(e) means to apply suction to the interior of the leg buck to cause the same to draw the legs of a pair of pants encircling the topper buck against the sides of the leg buck.

14. The combination according to claim 13 provided with means to supply heated air to the topper buck to distend the pants top and to flatten the wrinkles in the plants legs.

15. The combination according to claim 13 provided with means to move one buck relative to the other between a pants-dressing, separated position, and an endabutted, pressing position.

16. A pants-pressing machine comprising:

(a) a base frame having an upstanding portion at one end thereof,

(b) a carriage guided in said portion for vertical movement,

(c) a suction fitting aflixed to and moving with the carriage,

(d) an air pressure hose having a downwardly directed end and carried by and movable with the fitting,

(e) means located alongside said frame to produce suction,

(f) an extensible non-separable flow connection between the latter means and the suction fitting,

(g) said suction-producing means including means to produce a pressure flow of heated air and having an upwardly directed discharge that is in register with said downwardly directed hose end and is connected thereto only when the carriage is at the low position of its vertical movement,

(h) a topper buck fixedly carried by the carriage and having an enclosing bag into which the other end of the hose discharges heated air,

(i) a fly-pressing head to clamp a pants top on said buck with said bag therewithin and to be distended by air discharged in the bag,

(j) a hollow leg buck having perforated sides and disposed in forward aligned relation to the topper buck,

(k) means engaging the carriage to slidably mount the leg buck for movement toward and from the topper buck, said means having a passage open to the buck hollow and an end directed toward and aligned with the mentioned suction fitting,

(1) means to move the leg buck between a position separated from the topper buck and a position in end-to-end abutment therewith, said end of the buck mounting means being in suction flow contact with the suction fitting in the latter position to create suction on the perforated sides of the leg buck for holding the legs of a pair of pants having its top clamped to the topper buck, and

(m) means to press the sides of the pants top and legs when the carriage is at its low position.

17. A pants-pressing machine according to claim 16 in which means that extends into the mentioned bag is provided to expand the waist of the pants held clamped on the topper buck.

18. A pants-pressing machine according to claim 16 in which the topper buck has a recess in which the crotch of the pants on said buck is received, and resilient means on the leg buck to press the pants crotch into said recess upon movement of the leg buck into end abutment with the topper buck.

19. A pants-pressing machine according to claim 16 in which the mentioned suctionand heated air-producing means comprises:

(a) a continuously operating blower,

(b) a filter connected in series with said blower,

(c) a first three-way valve between the blower inlet and the mentioned suction fitting,

(d) a second three-way valve between the blower outlet and the mentioned upwardly directed discharge,

(e) a heater between said second valve and the discharge, and

(f) means to selectively set said two valves to produce a by-passing flow between the blower and filter only, a similar flow and including imposition of suction on the suction fitting and in the leg buck, and flow through the blower only that creates suction in the leg buck and roduces heated air pressure in the topper buck bag.

20. In a pants-pressing machine,

(a) two bucks arranged in end-to-end relation,

(b) means to move one buck toward and from the other,

(e) a closed bag around one buck,

(d) means to introduce air into said one buck to distend said bag and a garment in dressed position on said one buck, and

(e) means to produce suction on the outside of the other buck to hold portions of said garment against the outside of said other buck.

13 21. In a pants-pressing machine according to claim 20, said other buck being hollow, and means within said hollow and separate from the suction on the face of the buck to heat the same.

22. In a pants-pressing machine according to claim 20, (a) a press head operatively associated with said one buck and constituting means to clamp the garment on the buck in dressed position, and (b) means to heat said press head.

23. In a pants-pressing machine according to claim 20, 10

(a) a press head operatively associated with said one 'buck and constituting means to clamp the garment on the buck in dressed position,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1949 Lauzon 223-57 8/1961 Skovira 3821 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PANTS-PRESSING MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) A PANTS TOPPER BUCK, (B) A SINGLE INTERNALLY HEATED LEG BUCK PROVIDED WITH A CROTCH-ENGAGING END, (C) MEANS MOUNTING THE LEG BUCK FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT TOWARD AND FROM THE PANTS TOPPER BUCK, (D) MEANS TO MOVE THE LEG BUCK BETWEEN A POSITION LONGITUDINALLY SEPARATED FROM THE TOPPER BUCK AND AN ASSEMBLED POSITION IN WHICH THE TOPPER BUCK IS IN END ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MENTIONED END OF THE LEG BUCK, (E) MEANS TO MOVE THE ASSEMBLAGE OF BUCKS FROM A PANTS-DRESSING POSITION TO A PANTS-PRESSING POSITION, AND (F) PRESS HEAD MEANS IN POSITION TO ENGAGE THE BUCK ASSEMBLAGE IN THE LATTER POSITION TO PRESS AGAINST THE OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF. 